- It will be Lee University facing Valdosta State Univeristy in the opening game of the Gulf South Conference Championship which begins on Friday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. The Flames dropped to seventh place in the final conference standings after falling to Trevecca Nazarene University 9-4 on Sunday afternoon at Larry Carpenter Stadium.
Eight teams will take part in the double-elimination GSC tournament. Sunday’s loss to the Trojans gave Lee a 16-17 record in the conference standings while Trevecca improved to 17-16 and claimed the sixth spot in the upcoming tourney.
The Flames will take an even 500 mark (24-24) into the battle against Valdosta State.
Like in the two earlier contests in the three-game series with Trevecca, the Trojans jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning, adding a single run in the second, three runs in the third and another tally in the fourth to claim a 9-0 advantage.
The Flames rallied for two runs in the seventh and added two in the eighth but that was not nearly enough to overcome the early surges by the Trojans who had six extra-base hits, including three homers in the victory.
Lee only had five hits before putting together two scores in the seventh inning. Gavin Baxter, who had a solid three-game hitting series for the Flames, got the seventh-inning rally started with a one-base hit. Ashton Simmons followed with a walk and Luke Collier collected a pair of RBI with his one-base knock.
The Flames added their other two runs in the eighth. Ryan Valdes led off the inning when he tripled off the left-field wall. He scored on a sac fly by Baxter. Simmons was hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch and crossed home on JJ Williams’ single.
Lee threatened again in the bottom of the ninth. Cooper Doughman and Tucker Platt picked up one-base hits. After a strikeout, Brock Sisson reached on a fielder’s choice, which allowed Platt to be retired at second for the second out. Valdes walked and the game ended on another outstanding catch by Trojan centerfielder Wyatt Bowling on a ball hit in the gap by Baxter.
For the Flames, Williams, Collier and Baxter had two hits each. Collier knocked in two runs, Williams one and Baxter the other. Simmons scored twice, Baxter and Valdes once. Doughman, Platt, Sisson, Valdes and Simmons had one hit apiece.
Dylan Van Meeteren (2-7) was the starting and losing Lee pitcher. He retired only one batter, allowing four hits and four earned runs. Seth Parker came on for 2.2 innings and surrendered six hits and four earned runs. He struck out four and walked one. The remainder of the day was successful by four Lee pitchers. David White was called on for two innings. The Trojans collected four hits off the right-hander but scored only one earned run. Evan Bloomer was the highlight. The big right-hander pitched two innings of perfect baseball and fanned four hitters. Tim Gooden did the same and struck out two over one frame. Nelson Smith pitched the ninth. He gave up a hit but no runs.
Trevecca pounded out 15 hits. Cade Moore had three hits while Brett Dingess, Cole McCallum, Brady Maciak, Frankie Carreras and Noah Boughton posted two hits apiece. Dingess knocked in three runs while Carreras and Boughton had a pair of RBI.
The Trojans blasted three homers. Dingess, Maciak and Boughton all went deep while Moore, Joey Parliment and Carreras stroked two-base hits. McCallum, Maciak and Bowling put two runs apiece on the board for the winners.
Trevecca used five pitchers, but it was Ryan Sweeney (3-1) who picked up the victory. He worked a solid six innings and allowed five hits and no earned runs. The right-hander struck out six and walked two. The Flames did their damage against Matthew Hock who pitched the seventh inning and allowed two hits, two earned runs and walked a pair. James Dickson retired a pair of batters but gave up two hits and two earned runs.
Coach Mark Brew’s thoughts:
“It wasn’t the start we needed today. Our bullpen did a solid job and we once again showed some fight offensively late, but we can’t keep digging holes as we head into the postseason. Everyone is 0-0 at this point. It’s going to be a great week of baseball in Oxford and we are looking forward to it.”
Philip Tang
Director of Athletic Communications
Lee University
1 Corinthians 15:58
Phone: 423-614-3782
Email: ptang@leeuniversity.edu
Social Media: @philipjtang
www.leeuflames.com
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